Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-04-16

Holcomb, simply. 1--WE know we're do
ing what's right, taking Malvina; and I
don't believe but what it'll be for the
best.n
you're always just the same-always
real good" said the deacon, with feeling,
as he picked up his hat and started for
the barn.
And Mrs. Holcomb reflected that she
could hardly be better than the deacon.
y y
"She couldn't have had better day
for it nohow," said the deacon, de-
lightedly.
1t was q week later He stood at the
sitting room window, looking out at the
snowy, sunny world and rubbing his
work-roughened hands with quiet salts
! faction.
From the kitchen there came the odors
of simmering apple-sauce, of boiling tur-
nips and of hot mince-pies.
From the sofa came the sound of low
toned conversation, proceeding from the
corner where Kate and Mark Hill were
sitting rather close together-Mark, be-
ing prospective member of the family,
dropped in to dinner occasionally.
Up the road there came the jingle of
sleigh bells.
The deacon watched the little, old
fashioned cutter eagerly as it came nearer.
For the deacon's resolution had been
faithfully carried out. He had written a
| cordial invitation to poor Malvina, amid
the mild sneers of his brothers, Seth and
William, to be-sure, and the astonished
disapproval of such of his neighbors as
were in possession of the facts; but with
the laughing consent of his children, and
with the warm aiding and abetting of his
wife.
There had come prompt response to
his letter-a brief note, stating Miss NAL
vina Holcomb's acceptance of her uncle's
hospitality and stating, further, that she
would start directly, and would arrive q
few days later
The day had come.
The driver of the little cutter, turning
up at the lhitching- post with a flourish,
was Gene; and the small bundle of green
veil and water proof cloak which he lift
ed down into the snow was his Cousin
Malvina.
The deacon hurried to the door; Mrs.
Holcomb stopped in the act of MASKING
the turnips and rushed out to the porch;
and Kate followed hastily, with Mark
Hill close behind her.
The bundle had made its way up the
snowy path. The green veil had become
disarrangcd, and there looked out from
under it sharp little face, with bright,
dark eyes, and two rows of faded, cork
screw curs.
"We're glad to see you, Malvinaw
said the deacon; while Mrs. Holcomb
pulled her indoors kindly, and helped to
undo the voluminous waterproof cloak.
1t was a queer little woman that stood
warming her small hands at the kitchen
stove and looking sharply from one to
another, when the last wrap had been
removed.
She was certainly past fifty-so Kate
mentally decided. She also decided that
long earrings and Juvenile necklace,
and tight curls, besprinkled with gray,
were hardly becoming to her faded lit
tie face; and that her checked silk dress
was not in the best of taste.
But she felt warm impulse toward
her Cousin Malvina. There was kindly
sparkle in her eyes as she looked around
the modest table-Mrs. Holcomb had
taken up the dinner with hospitablc haste
at the deacon, carving, with beam
ing face; at Kate and Mark, side by side
of course, and engaged at the moment in
an affectionate alteration; at Mrs. Hol-
comb dishing the applcsauce; and at
Gene, who had come in, cold and snowy,
from the barn.
She did not appear to be much of a
talker. She answered their inquiries in
chirpy monosyllables, turning her gaze
meditatively around the small, bare room,
and through the door to the calico
covered sofa and the wcll-worn rag
carpet of the sitting room.
But she wore look of quiet satisfac-
ton and enjoyment, and by the time the
last of the mincc pies had disappeared,
and the dishes been washed briSkly by
Hates nimble hands, and they were all
gathered around the sitting room stove,
it had deepened into positive warmth,
which softened her sharp eyes and gave
a pink tingc to her faded cheeks.
II should Judge, Uncle Holcomb, :"
said Malvina, turning upon the deacon
81 should Judge, now, that YOU amt so
well off as you might be-"
1t was an embarrassing inquiry. Mark
Hill looked at his boots and pretended
not to have heard it; and Kate and Gene
exchanged indignant chances.
Surely any other remark would have
come better from their Cousin Malvina,
under the circumstances.
"Well, no." said the deacon, meekly
"And suppose" Malvina continued,
calmly-'I suppose Uncle Seth and Uncle
William are considerably better off, now
amt they?"
"Well, yes, said the deacon, 'thcy be- :"
$50 the colonel said. always called
him the colonel" said Malvina.
And there was a suspicion of mistiness
in her eyes as she spoke the name
There was a silence, broken sharply by
the violent jingling of Malvina's long
earrings, as she sat straight up in her
chair suddenly.
II shan't wait another minutew she
said, decidedly. "The colonel advised
me not to be hasty, to look into things .
little first But | couldn't know you any
better if waited a year, you dear, good
man. !"
| His listeners stared at each other in
silent alarm; and Kate edged little
nearer to Mark.
Was Malvina going out of her senses?
"Tve been imposing on you shame,
fully" Malvina went on, ener4etically-
'shamcfully"
The deacon looked at his wife apprc-
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